Thirty-three miners trapped underground in Chile sent a note on Sunday saying they are alive, raising hopes for the first time in the nearly three weeks since the mine collapsed, but officials cautioned it could take months to rescue the workers.

KIEV, Ukraine -- A methane blast ripped through a coal mine in eastern Ukraine early Sunday, killing more than 30 miners, emergency officials said. More than 70 others were missing. The explosion occurred around 3 a.m. (0100GMT) at the Zasyadka mine in

THE rescue team who freed two workers trapped in a Beaconsfield mine last year used unusual methods to skirt safety laws and save their mates, including passing on sensitive information by pretending it had come to them in a dream.